Sections 26-28 conclude John Wesley’s Plain Account of Christian Perfection. Section 26 provides a more simple summary of what Wesley means by Christian perfection.
Sections 27 and 28 provide a glimpse into the opposition he faced with respect to preaching Christian perfection and his defense. For example, Wesley writes, “Why should devout men be afraid of devoting all their soul, body, and substance to God? Why should those who love Christ count it a damnable error, to think we may have all the mind that was in him?”
We will close with a review of the exhortations unto Christian perfection found in Scripture. If those who do not believe we can have a perfect love for God and neighbor still maintain their opposition, careful study of the following verses is in order:
Matthew 5:48, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
If Christ commands us to be perfect, did He not command us to do something which is possible for humanity? Thayer’s Greek Lexicon states that “perfect” in Matthew 5:48 means “of mind and character, one who has reached the proper height of virtue and integrity.” Is this not your aim?
1 Peter 1:16, “Because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.’” This is a quotation from Leviticus 11:44-45 and Leviticus 19:2. The word “holy” in Leviticus literally means separate from impurity and sin. How separate can we be if we continue to have impurity and sin existing in our lives? We claim that gold is impure if it is mixed with impurities, and we have measurements to determine the exact amount of alloy which is mixed with gold. Do we really believe God accepts us despite our unwillingness to let go of impurities and sin?
Genesis 17:1, “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless.” One can only be blameless if no act deserving of blame has been committed.
Psalm 119:2-3,11, “How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart. They also do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways… Thy word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against Thee.” Is this not our goal, to not sin against God?
Colossians 1:28, “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” This word “complete” is the same word Christ uses as perfect in Matthew 5:48. Why proclaim Christ if the aim is less than completeness?
We will close this series on John Wesley’s Plain Account of Christian Perfection with an analogy. We all know Charlie Brown. Linus is always seen carrying around a dirty blanket. In motion pictures, the blanket is portrayed as constantly shedding dirt. Lucy attempts to take the blanket from Linus just to wash it and make the blanket clean. She cannot stand the filth.
Linus refuses to give up the blanket. He does not care that the blanket is dirty. All Linus cares about is that the blanket provides him with a sense of security. Take the blanket away, and his security is also removed.
We are no different. It may be sin, but it is my sin. My sin is known to me, and I feel a sense of control. Take my sin away, and I no longer feel in control. Require me to trust in the Lord, and it is such an unknown that I cannot bear the thought. Our sin is nothing more than a security blanket. Yet for us, in the presence of God, our sin is an idol which we have used as a substitute for God. Like Linus’ blanket, our sin may be dirty, but it provides us with a sense of security.
Linus, while continuing to clutch the dirty blanket, will not become mature. The security blanket shields him from responsibility and protects him from having to face reality. Like Linus, our sin shields us from personal responsibility for our conduct and motives, and it blinds us to the reality of hell.
By defending continued sin while upholding justification by faith, we run headlong into Romans 6:1-13 and James 2:14-24. James exhorts that faith without works is dead. Knowing we are justified by faith alone, that faith must produce works consistent with its result. A justified person must produce faith consistent with justification through Christ. Likewise, in Romans, Paul exhorted that in Christ we have died to sin. How can we continue living in sin when we are dead to sin?
This is where the Linus analogy helps us. We continue to sin because we want to, and there is no other explanation for it. Entire doctrines are then constructed around excusing continual sin and avoiding attaining unto Christian perfection. I am here reminded of the errors of Gnosticism which engaged in the same act of excusing continual sin while claiming to have achieved salvation through knowledge.
Understanding that faith is belief, we remove ourselves from physical danger, such as a house fire, on faith. We believe that the danger presents imminent harm, so that belief turns into action. If there is no action – no works – then do we truly believe? Do we really have what we claim to have?
Faith and works are inseparable, and the faith we have must produce works which are consistent with that faith. Continual sin is inconsistent with justification by faith, and if we continue in sin, then we have not died to sin.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, my greatest struggle is in letting go of the things which bring me pleasure but hold me back from spiritual maturity. Grant me Your strength today to live victoriously and obediently. Where I still desire the sinful habits and sinful pleasures, help me to trust in Your strength, and help me to be sensitive to sin and quick to confess sin. Amen.
Like this post? Subscribe to stay up to date on new posts.